Ondo PDP Expresses Dismay Over Allocation of N11.5bn Security Vote to Finance Ministry

•Says, EFCC must be thorough in investigating Ondo’s ‘budget of looting’

Fidelis David in Akure

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Ondo State Chapter, on Monday, expressed dismay over the alleged allocation of N11.5 billion security vote to the State’s Ministry of Finance in the 2025 budget.

The PDP, through the State Publicity Secretary, Kennedy Peretei, described the fiscal document as ‘budget of looting’, urging the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to be thorough while investigating the alleged inflated overhead costs in the budget.

According to PDP, “The Ondo State 2025 Appropriation Act, signed by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa can be appropriately described as a “Budget of Looting”. Surprisingly the Governor called it a “Budget of Recovery”.

“Of the N698 billion earmarked for spending in the year 2025, a whopping N11.5bn was allocated to Ministry of Finance as “Security Vote”. Not even budget experts could explain the meaning of security vote in a ministry, different from the one the governor receives monthly under the same sub-head.”

The State Publicity Secretary of PDP further alleged that there are other outrageous allocations such as N200m to House of Assembly Members and N280m to Speaker of the Ondo State Assembly, respectively as phone expenses.

The party said: “The Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), Ondo State Chapter is not in any doubt that, these dubious allocations are certainly not in the interest of the State as they are brazen, “the devil never cares” moves to empty the State Treasury. There is nowhere in the world where the people’s monies are so stolen with official stamp in this reckless manner.

“Critical sectors like Education and Health Care received only N77.024bn and N46.016bn respectively. Is there any doubt, why the Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa ‘s government has achieved nothing since its inception over a year ago? The focus is more on looting than development of the state.

“Our party calls on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to be thorough in their investigation of the stealing of public funds in Ondo State, through the 2025 Budget. No state can make progress if those entrusted with the people’s funds are not accountable but use under-hand tactics to steal.”

Reacting, an Akure-based legal kractitioner, Femi Emmanuel Emodamori, said it was totally scandalous, senseless, tactless, and heartbreaking.

His words: “We have 60 minutes in an hour, 24 hours in a day, and 365 days in a year. So, we have 1,440 minutes in a day (60 x 24) and 525,600 minutes in a year (1440 x 365). Even with the recent approval for a 50% increase in call tariff from N11 to N16.5 per minute by the federal government, a non-stop telephone call for the entire 525,600 minutes in a year would cost only N8,672,400.

“The allegation that the Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly claimed, inserted, and approved N200m as telephone call allowance for his office in the 2025 Ondo State Budget is, therefore, totally scandalous, senseless, tactless, and heartbreaking.

“Could this be part of a mutual arrangement by the executive and legislative arms of government in Ondo State to plunder the state, particularly in view of the allegation that the State’s Commissioner for Finance (just a commissioner) got an approval for a strange, unprecedented, and illegal N11billion as ‘Security Vote’ in the same budget, under the watch of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa? Are these allegations mere political propaganda and smear campaign?

“Unfortunately, unlike the normal practice in the days of late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, the current Ondo State 2025 Budget is not on the state government’s official website for Nigerians to crosscheck the facts and figures.

“However, if these allegations are true, then, I demand the immediate resignation of Mr. Speaker and the State Commissioner for Finance. They need not wait to be investigated by the EFCC.

“If, on the other hand, the allegations are false or inaccurate, there is a need for the Speaker and State Commissioner for Finance to immediately allay the fears and concerns of the people of Ondo and all well-meaning Nigerians by publishing the 2025 Budget of Ondo State as assented to by the governor on the state government’s website.”